How to Stabilize 360 Drone Footage in After Effects | SkyBox Studio

Charles Yeager (yeagerfilm.com) explains how to stabilize 360 drone footage in After Effects using the built-in Tracker feature, with SkyBox Studio. He uses the SkyBox Converter to convert the drone footage from equirectangular format to cubic cross, to have a flat surface area to work with. He attaches a Null onto the road beneath the drone, and sets the motion target to the Null. It is a pretty simple technique, and you will have varying degrees of success based on the wobble in your original footage. The same process is used by Alex Vasutin (vrvr.pro) in: Stabilise 360 Footage and Add VFX in After Effects.

SkyBox Converter easily changes the Equirectangular drone footage to Cubic Cross format. The flat surface area is easier to track.

A Null is attached to the bricks in the road beneath the drone. The motion target is the Null.

We see the same technique used to stabilize motorcycle footage.

Charles Yeager is a Filmmaker & Motion Graphics Artist currently residing in Arkansas. His projects have been recognized by Canon, Video Copilot, Vimeo, Filmmaker IQ, No Film School, Film Convert, BOOM Library & Filminute. See his portfolio at yeagerfilm.com.

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